The Great Indian Education System :- From Gurukuls to IITs.

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.":-Albert Einstein


In the context of above mentioned - simple but deep lines, let us evaluate the current system of education in India. The Indian education system, despite being the second largest in the world, has poor international standing. It emphasizes and produces quantity, not quality. Ironically, even that quantity is insufficient because half of India remains illiterate. In addition to this unfortunately, we are stuck with the age-old examination system to assess the student’s capabilities. The understanding of the subject is not important until and unless you are able to score 80-90 marks. As my friend Rohin Dogra would time and again comment, “We overeat the night before the exams, so that we may sit and vomit easily in our answer sheets.” The way we are made to attempt the paper is nothing better than vomiting. Instead of monitoring our progress at regular intervals, we are judged only in the examinations.

Knowledge, as they say is imparted in these institutes. Let us first elucidate this very term, knowledge as is mentioned in our sacred texts,
विद्या नाम नरस्य रूपमधिकं प्रच्छन्नगुप्तं धनं
विद्या भोगकरी यशः सुखकरी विद्या गुरूणां गुरुः॥
विद्या बन्धुजनो विदेशगमने विद्या परा देवता
विद्या राजसु पूज्यते न हि धनं विद्याविहीनः पशुः॥

Meaning:- Knowledge is certainly a man’s greatest beauty. It is a safe and hidden treasure.It provides prosperity, fame and happiness. Knowledge is the teacher of all teachers.It acts as one’s friend in a foreign country. Knowledge is the Supreme God. It is the knowledge, not wealth, which is adored by kings. Without knowledge one remains animal.


In ancient India, we were the pioneers of quality education. We excelled both at primary as well as higher education level. The concept of participative education was prevalent. In a gurukuls, formal education of mathematics, physical fitness, spirituality and moral science was imparted. The teachers (gurus) used to set examples of high moral character and sacrifice. There was no system of unnecessary examination as it is prevalent now. When the teacher felt that his pupil has attained enough knowledge to be promoted, he would do so.

However I would never suggest reverting to this type of system now. Neither the teachers are qualified and corruption free nor the students devoted and obedient to resort to such type of learning environments.

During the time of Chandragupta we had the famous Nalanda University. At its peak, the university attracted scholars and students from as far away as China, Greece, and Persia. The great library of Nalanda University was so vast that it is reported to have burned for three months after the invaders set fire to it.

There is no need of a survey or world rankings to know the present condition of Indian universities. To quote Prime Minister Manmohan singh ..
"Our university system is, in many parts, in a state of disrepair...In almost half the districts in the country, higher education enrollments are abysmally low, almost two-third of our universities and 90 per cent of our colleges are rated as below average on quality parameters... I am concerned that in many states university appointments, including that of vice-chancellors, have been politicized and have become subject to caste and communal considerations, there are complaints of favoritism and corruption."
– Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

India is home to many universities which have been founded with the sole objective of making easy money. Students from rural and semi urban background often fall victim to these institutes and colleges. In January 2010, the Government of India decided to withdraw Deemed university status from as many as 44 institutes as they did not qualify for elevation by any standard and that "they were being run as family fiefdoms".

What we need today is increased accountability from these so called centers of higher learning. Increase spending on primary and high school education. Increase the salaries of teachers and bring more accountability by implementing the concept of performance driven promotions and salary.

Regarding technical education, I was studying a survey yesterday which highlighted the poor condition of our Technical Institutes and prompted me to write this article. As of 2007, there are 1522 degree-granting engineering colleges in India with an annual student intake of 582,000, plus 1,244 polytechnics with an annual intake of 265,000. However, these institutions face shortage of faculty and concerns have been raised over the quality of education. Most of them are by all standards grossly below standards.Focus should be more on original thinking and problem solving then on comprehension type learning.Hope you understood what I meant.

As far as moral education is concerned, no textbook can teach a child to be honest, while he observes that his government, his parents and his teachers are corrupt. What moral lessons on honesty can an immoral and corrupt person give?

All these things are better said than done. None of this is possible without a strong political will to improve and strengthen our country. The future of the country lies not in the old but in the children. If we can inculcate the feeling of devotion, patriotism and hard work in our children, we can surely forecast a strong and powerful future ahead.

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते!
Here (in this world), there is nothing as pure(sublime) as knowledge.

Jai Hind.